Cat and pigeon are best friends

Putting the cat among the pigeons is not normally an affectionate affair, but in Wainoni, New Zealand, an unlikely bond has formed between a pair of natural enemies. Homer, the pigeon, and Henry the cat, are living proof that differences can be put aside, since the pair each adopted their owners, Sandra and Murray Campbell.

"They eat together and play fight together. The pigeon flaps its wings and the cat puts its paws up. Homer even sits on the cat's back and when the cat stalks sparrows on the front lawn, old ding-dong pigeon follows behind to watch,'' Mrs Campbell said.

Henry arrived as a stray at the Campbells a year ago. Six months later, Homer landed. "My daughter was visiting from Australia and we were sitting here looking out the door when my daughter goes `Oh my God there's a pigeon with Henry!'



"We thought it was going to have its head bitten off. But no, they got along fine." The pair have been found sleeping on a bed together although Henry is more likely to be found in the bird house Mr Campbell built for Homer.

Where the pair came from remains a mystery, but the Campbells speculate the pair may have come from the same home originally. "We'd love to know but we're quite attached to them now."

Homer doesn't stick around at night, disappearing about 6pm each evening. "But he's back the next morning about 6.30am coo-ing and carrying on," Mrs Campbell said.